Aptagen Secures New Contracts!
Aptagen has been hard at work on current contracts and has recently added 2 new projects to the board.
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Interscientific Corporation
Aptagen has been contracted to develop aptamers against several new targets to be used in Interscientific's diagnostic programs.
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University of Texas
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department at the University of Texas has commissioned Aptagen to develop an aptamer to be used against protein targets.
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Aptagen Bowls
for Science!
Aptagen employees and interns met recently at Suburban Bowlerama in York, PA to test out new theories in inertia and centrifugal force.
Although confidence was high with the numbers on paper, the scores seemed to be limited to two-digit outcomes.
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About Aptagen
Aptagen, LLC, a biotechnology company, develops molecular bullets called aptamers and aptabodies used in research, medicine, and industry. These molecules are an alternative to the conventional antibody without its limitations and can be used in a variety of applications from diagnostic and biomarker detection to therapeutic discovery and drug targeting to
nanobiotechnology.
Aptagen was formed in 2004. Operations began in 2006. The company is located in Jacobus, PA, a suburb of York, beautifully surrounded by Lake Redman and conveniently situated off of route 83. The facility is a forty minute drive from Johns Hopkins University and Hershey Medical Center.
Learn more about our unique process by viewing the online video. (video/animation). |
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Media Contact:
Andrew P. Sprich
(717) 278-2436 ext505
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| Greetings!
With 2010 approaching fast, we would like to present some of Aptagen's recent accomplishments and inform you of what we will be focusing on in the months to come.
 In recent news, Aptagen has filed the term 'Aptabody' for Trademark Registration with US Patent and Trademark Office. This registration will benefit Aptagen as we continue to market and brand our services.
As new members join our team and research collaborations expand, we have added Dr. James Cosentino as a new scientific advisor. Dr. Cosentino is a Professor at Millersville University and will be helping us in submitting new grant proposals.
We grew steadily in the declining economy and we are looking forward to continued growth as the country improves. Contact us for how you can become a part of our company growth and benefit from our upcoming projects!
Thank you for your continued interest in Aptagen.
For archive newsletters please visit www.aptagen.com |
Aptamer Science News....
Nobel Prize Winner is Using Aptamers
Dr. Kary Mullis, who won the Noble prize in chemistry for developing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), discussed updates to his latest project involving aptamers that have a binding affinity to a variety of molecular substrates.
Antithrombotic Aptamers
Dr. David J. Mazzo spoke about antithrombotic aptamers at the Japan Biopharma Conference in Tokyo, Japan
Aptamers to Treat HIV
Dr. John J. Rossi discussed the role of aptamers in treating (HIV) at Drug Discovery & Development Week held in Boston.
Aptamers Against Typhoid Fever
A research group from the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona, Spain, has developed a biosensor that can immediately detect very low levels of Salmonella typhi, the bacteria that causes typhoid fever.
Aptamer Cancer Research
Dr. Chad A. Mirkin, principal investigator of the Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics at the Northwestern University Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, demonstrated the utility of aptamers to locate and analyze Intracellular Adenosine Triphosphates (ATP) which will help to accelerate the application of nanotechnology in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
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Where to Find Aptagen
Aptagen has been advertising for the past six months in "Bioscience Technology" and "Drug Discovery & Development Magazine." Look for our ads.
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President and CEO of Aptagen
Speaks at local Chemistry Seminar
In October 2009, Tom Caltagirone, Ph.D., President and CEO of Aptagen, LLC, presented "Aptamers and Aptabodies in Drug Discovery, Diagnostics, and Nanotechnology" at York College. Dr. Caltagirone participated as a guest speaker at the conference sponsored by the chemistry department. |
Upcoming Events
November 3-6, 2009 - Fukuoka, JapanThe 5th Annual meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society and the 19th Joint Antisense Symposium. Click here for more info!
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Aptagen Acquires New Equipment
Clean-room
Aptagen has recently remodeled and has added a Clean-room to the Lab. This will allow us to maintain a sterile environment for preparing sensitive samples. We have also added the following scientific equipment.
HP1050 HPLC
This will allow us to separate and purify our aptamers and aptabodies, and provide quality control. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical process utilizing a special instrument designed to separate, quantify and analyze components of a chemical mixture. Samples of interest are introduced to a solvent flow path; carried through a column packed with specialized materials (at high pressure) for component separation. Component data is obtained through a combination of a detection mechanism coupled with a data recording system.  NanoDrop 1000 Spectrophotometer
 Thermocycler MJ PTC-1000
This thermocycler is used to amplify segments of DNA via the polymerase chain reaction process. This can be used to vary the temperature of the DNA over a preset cycle. Thermocylcing will cause the original sample to separate and be used as a template for building multiple copies of the original sequence exponentially.
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As Internships Conclude...
Nadine Chase, a biology student from Penn State York, and Jamie Harper, biology at York College, recently graduated from Aptagen's Internship Program. Congratulations to both interns! Nadine plans to continue her career in the field of Immunology, and Jamie plans to work in industry before heading to graduate school.
Nadine (bottom row,second from left)
Jamie (bottom row, third from left)
Aptagen Research Team, Oct'09 | |
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